PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS September 18-21, 2009 NEWS INTEREST INDEX OMNIBUS SURVEY FINAL TOPLINE N=1001

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1 PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS September 18-21, 2009 NEWS INTEREST INDEX OMNIBUS SURVEY FINAL TOPLINE N=1001 Q.1 All things considered these days have you been hearing too much, too little, or the right amount about Barack Obama? July Mar Oct Aug Too much Too little Right amount Don t know/ (VOL.) Q.2 As I read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past week, please tell me if you happened to follow each news story very, fairly, not too, or not at all. First, [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE] [IF NECESSARY Did you follow [ITEM] very, fairly, not too or not at all? ] a. Reports about the condition of the U.S. economy * September 11-14, * September 3-6, * August 28-31, August 21-24, August 14-17, * August 7-10, * July 31-August 3, * July 24-27, * July 17-20, July 10-13, * July 2-5, * June 19-22, * June 12-15, * June 5-8, * May 29-June 1, * May 21-24, * May 15-18, * May 8-11, * May 1-4, April 17-20, April 9-13, March 27-30, * March 20-23, * March 13-16, * February 27-March 2, * February 13-16, * January 30-February 2, * January 23-26, January 16-19, * 1 For Aug. 1-4 and Oct , 2008, the question was preceded by Thinking about the presidential campaign. Also, the question then was asked about both Obama and John McCain, in random order. 7

2 January 2-4, * December 12-15, * December 5-8, * November 21-24, * November 14-17, * November 7-10, * October 31-November 3, * October 24-27, October 17-20, * October 10-13, * October 3-6, * September 26-29, * September 19-22, * September 5-8, * August 29-31, August 15-18, * August 8-11, * August 1-4, July 25-28, * July 18-21, * July 11-14, June 27-30, June 13-16, * May 9-12, * May 2-5, April 18-21, April 4-7, * March 28-31, * March 20-24, * February 29-March 3, February 15-18, February 1-4, January 18-21, * January 11-14, November 2-5, October 19-22, * August 10-13, * Mid-November, December, Early November, * Mid-May, January, * Mid-October, Early September, Mid-January, * December, November, October, September, March, February, * January, December,

3 February, January, December, Mid-November, June, May, April, February, January, June, * March, * February, December, * October, June, * May, January, Early January, * December, October, * September, Early September, * August, * May, February, * January, * September, May, March, * February, * January, * October, b. Debate over health care reform * September 11-14, * September 3-6, August 28-31, August 21-24, August 14-17, TREND FOR COMPARISON: 2 August 7-10, 2009: Debate in Washington over health care reform July 31-August 3, July 24-27, * July 17-20, July 10-13, * June 26-29, June 12-15, 2009 to August 7-10, 2009 asked about: Debate in Washington over health care reform. May 15-18, 2009 asked about: Debate over Barack Obama s health care plans. March 6-9, 2009 asked about: Barack Obama proposing a $630 billion fund for overhauling the U.S. health care system. September, 1993 through September, 1994 asked about: The Clinton Administration s health care reform proposals. May, 1993 through August, 1993 asked about: Reports about the White House task force on health care reform headed by Hillary Clinton. 9

4 June 19-22, * June 12-15, * May 15-18, 2009: Debate over Obama s health care plans * March 6-9, 2009: Obama proposing a $630 billion fund for overhauling health care * September, 1994: The Clinton administration s health care reform proposals * June, * May, January, * Early January, * December, October, September, * August, 1993: Reports about the White House task force on health care reform headed by Hillary Clinton June, * May, c. Reports about swine flu and the availability of a vaccine * September 11-14, * September 3-6, August 28-31, * TREND FOR COMPARISON: 3 May 21-24, * May 8-11, * May 1-4, April 25-27, * d. The U.S. military effort in Afghanistan * September 11-14, September 3-6, August 21-24, August 7-10, March 20-23, * February 20-23, January 30-February 2, * January 2-4, October 24-27, October 10-13, * September 12-15, August 29-31, * 3 May 21-24, 2009 and May 8-11, 2009 asked about: Reports about swine flu in the U.S. and elsewhere. For May 1-4, 2009 the story was listed as: The outbreak of swine flu in different parts of the world. For April 25-27, 2009 the story was listed as: Reports of swine flu in Mexico and the U.S. 4 August 21-24, 2009 asked about Afghanistan s presidential election. February 20-23, 2009 asked about The Obama administration s decision to send 17,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. From June 20-23, 2008 to October 10-13, 2008 the story was listed as The military effort in Afghanistan against Taliban fighters. 10

5 July 18-21, * July 11-14, July 3-7, * June 20-23, * Late July, June, April, Early April, February, January, December, Mid-November, Early November, Mid-October, e. Obama cancelling a planned missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic * f. The murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le in a campus lab building TREND FOR COMPARISON: March 14-17, 2008: The murder of a female student at the University of North Carolina * 11

6 Q.3 Which ONE of the stories I just mentioned have you followed most, or is there another story you ve been following MORE? [DO NOT READ LIST. ACCEPT ONLY ONE RESPONSE.] 36 Debate over health care reform 15 Reports about the condition of the U.S. economy 14 Reports about swine flu and the availability of a vaccine 12 The murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le in a campus lab building 6 The U.S. military effort in Afghanistan 4 Obama cancelling a planned missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic 6 Some other story (VOL.) 8 Don t know/ (VOL.) Q.4 How much if anything, have you heard about each of the following? Have you heard a lot, a little or nothing at all? [READ AND RANDOMIZE] Nothing A lot A little at all a. Senator Max Baucus unveiling his health care reform proposal * b. Employees of the community organizing group ACORN appearing to give advice to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute * c. Charges that racism is a factor in criticisms of President Obama and his policies * d. A September 12 th rally in Washington to protest government spending and policies * 12